Article counting and stacking mechanism



Oct 11, 1938, Y J. T. DALTON 2,133,189

ART ICLE COUNTING AND STACKING MECHANISM Original Filed April 12, 1935 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 sir J57 .7.-.Z76Z [10h Oct. 11, 1938. -J. T. DALTON ARTICLE COUNTING AND ST ACKING MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 12, 1935 J56 .Da/Z'ah Oct. 11, 1938. J T.,DALTON ARTICLE COUNTING AND STACKING MECHANISM I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed A ril 12, 1955 Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED. STATES- .ARTICLE COUNTING AND STACKING MEQJH- ANISM John T. Dalton, Durham, N'. 0., assignor to Wright-Dalton Machinery'Company, Durham, N. 0., a corporation OfQNGBf/h Carolina Original application April 12, 1935, Serial No.

16,092. Divided and this application April 13,

1936, Serial No. 74,220

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for packaging articles, and more particularly to the packaging of pills and similar articles in en- -velopesand similar containers, the present application being a division of my prior application, Serial No. 16,092 filed April 12, 1935.

' One ofthe primary objects of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for counting envelopes or similar receptacles, which may be filled with pills or similar articles, and forming them into stacks ready for packing and shipment or storage.

Another object is to provide novel and improved means for detecting the absence of an 5 envelope and for controlling counting means accordingly, so that the counting means will not perform a counting operation unless an envelope is actually fed thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for introducing a predetermined accurately counted number of filled envelopes or receptacles into each of a number of pockets in a magazine and from which the envelopes or receptacles may be removed in the form of stacks ready for packing or storage,

each stack containing an accurately counted filled envelopes, a magazine to receive them, and

, means for introducing the filled envelopes into the magazine;

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the means for introducing the filled envelopes into a chamber or pocket of the magazine and the means for retaining a stack of filled envelopes therein; Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section through the filled envelope carrier, on an enlarged scale,

- taken on the line 33 in Fig.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the structureshown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the right in that figure; ,Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the :iimechanism for receiving the filled envelopes from the carrier,.'and feeding them. to the means ior introducing them into the magazine.

' Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the mechanism which controls the counting mechanism according to the presence or absence of a filled envelope;

Figure '7 is an elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, showing the counting mechanism set in inoperative or non-counting condition, as when a filled envelope is absent or not presented for introduction into the magazlne;

V Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 but showing the counting mechanism in normal or counting condition as when a filled envelope is present for introduction into the magazine;

Figure 9 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section and on an enlarged scale, showing the mechanism for rotating the magazine to bring the envelope receiving chambers or pockets therein successively into envelope receiving position; and 11-.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken on the line Ill-l0 in Fig. 9.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the different figures.

The present invention provides a machine which embodies means for carrying filled and sealed enve1opes,while maintained in sealed condition, to a magazine inwhich they are stacked, and for counting the actual. number of filled envelopes stacked in the magazine, the magazine having a plurality of chambers or'pockets therein, .each. adapted to stack a predetermined counted number of the filled envelopes therein, and means being provided for automatically bringing another chamber in the magazine into envelope receiving position when .a preceding chamber therein has received ,a predetermined counted number of the filled envelopes.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the. present instance as applied to the counting andstacking of envelopes, but it will be apparent that the invention is not restricted thereto orto the particular construction of, ma-

chine shown since the machine may be employed for other similar purposes and constructions equivalent to that shown may be employed and such will be included within the scopeof the claims.

The counting and stacking mechanism, as

shown in the present instance, is mounted on the table I of an envelope filling and, closing machine as shown and described more fully in myiprior application hereinbefore referred to,

ste-althoughritois to be understood that it may be employed alone or in conjunction with filling and closing machines of other constructions.

The filled envelopes to be introduced into the counting and stacking mechanism may be of an ordinary well-known form comprising a fiat body a of paper or other suitable material, closed at the bottom by the usual closing flap which may be lapped and pasted against the body, and a closing flap b, this flap being in its closed and sealed condition when the envelopes are supplied to the counting and stacking mechanism.

After the envelopes have been filled and the flaps b have been folded, gummed and sealed by any suitable means, as by the filling and closing means discussed in my aforesaid prior application, they are introduced into the counting and stacking mechanism by any suitable means, as for example, by a carrier which maintains the flaps in sealed condition while conducting them to a feeding device which directs the filled and sealed envelopes to a magazine for stacking therein. The carrier device shown in the present instance is similar to that disclosed in my prior application filed December 6, 1934 Serial No. 756,355, it comprising, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, an endless chain 3 which is mounted to travel over a pair of sprocket wheels 4 and 5 fixed on shafts 6 and 1 supported in bearing brackets 8 and 9 mounted on the table I. The links of the chain 3 carry gripping members [0 and II which while traveling around the sprocket wheels, are relatively separated but which while traveling along the lower straight side of the chain, are in relatively closed relation so that they will grip and maintain sealing pressure upon the gummed and closed flaps on the upper ends of the envelopes, rails l2 being provided along which the grippers travel at the underside of the chain for maintaining the gripping members in gripping relation with the envelope flaps. The shaft 6 of the sprocket Wheel 4 is located above the path of travel of a conveyor such as that disclosed in my application Ser. No. 16,092 hereinbefore referred to, such conveyor carrying grippers I30 which grip the edges of the envelope and advance it, as shown in Fig. 1, so that each envelope as it is advanced edgewise by the conveyor will be brought into a position between adjacent grippers l0 and H which at that time are about to leave the sprocket wheel 4 by an ejector l3 or other suitable means, so that these grippers will close upon the upper flap carrying end of the envelope.

Any suitable means may be provided for advancing the chain 3 of the carrier immediately after the upper flap carrying end of an envelope has been introduced between adjacent grippers thereon, whereby the upper end and closing fiap of such envelope will be gripped and advanced by the carrier, as for example, a disk 14 fixed on the shaft 6 to which the sprocket wheel 4 is fixed, this disk having an annular series of pins i 5 fixed thereon and projecting from a side thereof in appropriately spaced relation, and a pawl it having a dog I1 thereon which is engageable successively with the pins l5 as the pawl is reciprocated by any suitable means, as for example, that shown in my aforesaid prior application. The disk M has ratchet teeth formed in its periphery with which a spring pressed dog I8 cooperates to prevent backward motion of the carrier chain 3 after each advanc thereof.

The filled and sealed envelopes are advanced by the carrier while suspended therefrom and while their upper ends and closing flaps are clamped firmly between the grippers of the carrier, as shown in Fig. 1, until the envelopes reach a position beneath the sprocket wheel 5. As the envelopes reach this position, the grippers l0 and I l of the carrier begin to pass around the sprocket wheel 5, in consequence of which the grippers are opened or relatively separated, and the envelopes are thus released from the carrier and dropped by gravity into a feeding device for an envelope stacking magazine, shown particularly in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. This feeding device comprises an inclined chute 20 which is suitably supported in fixed position on the machine as by a bracket 2|. In order to insure the removal of any bag that may tend to adhere to the grippers of the carrier when such bag reaches the discharge point, a plate 22 is provided which is mounted to be reciprocated by any suitable means in parallelism with the plane of the envelope suspended at the discharge end of the carrier and a stationary stop 23 is also provided adjacent to the point of discharge of the envelopes from the carrier, this stop being fixed to a side of the bracket 9 so that it will be in the path of the lower portions of the envelopes suspended from the carrier as the envelopes reach the discharge point. By this arrangement, as each envelope reaches the discharge point on the carrier it will be released by the opening of the grippers thereof and the lower portion of the envelope will come against the stop 23. If the envelope is released freely by the grippers of the carrier, it will immediately drop by gravity edgewise into the chute 20. However, if adhesive on the fiap or upper portion of the envelope causes it to adhere to either of the grippers l0 and H of the carrier so that such envelope is not released, the advancing stroke of the plate 22 which is timed to take place at this time, Will strike the adhering envelope and thereby free it from the carrier, thus avoiding clogging of the carrier which might otherwise occur.

Each filled and sealed envelope, as it drops into the chute 20 is temporarily detained by a pair of fingers 24 which are fixed on a rock shaft 25 rotatably mounted in bearings 26 on the sides of the chute, the shaft 25 having a crank 21 fixed thereon and pivotally connected at 28 to a link 29, a tension spring 30 being connected to said link and acting to lift it and thereby swing the fingers 24 into contact with the bottom of the chute 20 so that they will intercept and temporarily hold an envelope introduced therein. The link 29 is guided in its vertical movements by a link 3| which is pivotally connected thereto at 32 and is pivotally connected to the stationary frame of the machine at 33, and the lower end of the link 29 is curved or bent as at 34, to provide an actuating portion for lowering it, as will be hereinafter described. The lower portion of the chute 20 is curved to form a substantially horizontal terminal portion 35, this end of the chute being closed by an end wall 36 which serves to arrest the movement of each envelope as it reaches the lower end of the chute, and this lower portion of the chute is provided with slots 31 through which an envelope lifter 38 reciprocates vertically. The envelope lifter, which is preferably of yoke shape in form to provide a pair of laterally spaced wings 39 and envelope supporting lugs 40 at the upper corners thereof, is of a shape to reciprocate upwardly through the slots 31in the bottom of the envelope chute, and it is fixed as by a clamping screw 4| to the upper end of a plunger 42, the latter being mounted to reciprocate vertically in a; stationary guide 43- rriounted on a stati'onary part of the machine frame and being op'eratively connected bya link to an operating crank 45, the latter being fixed-'on" ash'aft 46 mounted in a bearing 41 fixed on the frame of the machine, this shaft being driven by a sprocket wheel 48 fixed'thereon and connected-to a sprocket wheel 48 of equal size fixed-'on'a'shaft 50,'by acon necting chain 5| so that-during each revolution 01 the shaft 46 or of the shaft 5ll from which it :is driven, the crank-45 will lift the envelope lifter ered position, as shown in Fig. 5A The bar or plunger 42 also carries an arm '52 which is fixed to'project laterally therefrom: and beyond the envelope lifter into a position wher'eit will-strike linkeach time the envelope lifter is lowered or ing of the link 29 will rotate the shaft in a velope may descend by gravity to the lower end therein, and this envelope will be lifted out of direction to retract the fingers 24 from the bottom 'of theenvelope chute andthereby release an envelope retained thereby so that this enof the chute in a position 'above the" slots 31 the chute by the following ascentof the lifter 38.

envelopes one at a time to the envelope lifting position.

- a stack, the-envelopesbeing automatically intro The present invention provides a magazine having a plurality of chambers-therein into 'each of which a'predetermined or-counted' number of filled and sealed envelopes is introduced to form duced'into another chamber in the magazine after each chamber therein has received the predetermined or counted number of envelopes.

This part of the mechanism comprises a magazine which is mounted to rotate'on a vertical axis by a shaft 56, the upper end of which is 'supportedby a bracket 51 mounted on the table.

of the machine, the lower end of the shaft 56 1 being supported by a bracket 58 which extends outwardly from the frame of the machine, the magazine being rotatably mounted on the shaft 55 by bearings 59 and supported by a'suitable thrust bearing 60 which rests on the bracket 58. The magazine contains an annular series of vertically extending chambers or pockets 6| which extend from the bottom to the top thereof, each ofthese chambers being ofa cross section corresponding substantially in size and shape 'to that iof the envelopes. These chambers are open at the bottom of themagazine for the reception of the envelopes, and in order to permit the envelopes to be introduced successively'into"each chamber and to supportor retain a stack of envelopes therein, the bottom of ea'ch'ofthese chambers, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided at itsoppositesides with a pair of envelope retaining members 62 which are pivoted on shafts 63- mounted on thebottom of the magazine and are providedwith springs 64 which act to'normally but yieldingly swing these members inwardly I-"into envelope supporting and'retaining position.

The lower ends of these members are provided with lugs 55 arranged to engage the lower edges of bars 66 fixed to the bottom of the magazine so that the members 62 may support the weight of a stack of envelopes in the magazine cham--- Y ber.- When the magazine isrotated into-a posi--' the lower end 34' of the 1i nk'29 and lower this 'magazine is held-against rota-tion -whi tion to bring" acham'ber fi'f thereihdiiectly above the envelope lifter 38 and the lower end of the envelope chute 20', the ascent 0f theenvelope lifter will carry an" envelope theredn upwardly between the retainin'g-"- members MZ- 'Spreading them apartso astoadm-it the' envelope td' the magazinechamber 61, and to lift the stack of -envelopes in the e'hamber upwa'raiy rmm' the members 62,'-=and when" the liftr' 3'8 descends, the envelope thus introducedinto the magazihe chamber as well'as-'those-"-'in the stack abc've it,

-will come-torest on the retainihg' 'meinberS 62 which-swing inwardly or into envelope'f'supportl ingposition as the lifter-38 des'cends oi returns to its normal lowere'd position.

#The magazine is" rotatd step by' step as each -chamber thereinreceives' -a predetermined or counted number of the envelopes and it' i's retained successively'in positions where thefcham- -bers therein are alined with the' -nvelo'pe lifter 'and anactuating ci'ank 'or member *1 4 splir'id on The fingers 24 thus controlled by the operation 9 of the-envelope lifter, insure the feeding of the a shaft "15, the latter beihg rh'oimted iii-bearings l5 and I1 supportedon the frame of themachine,

the crank 14 carrying a roller" mwmeh; when p the crank is shifted upwardly "on: the shaft 15,

will be engageable inone of theflhotches llirithe Geneva plate -T6, -and='--rotation of the crank will rotate the'Geneva .platea st'ep' to carry filled chamber in the magazine outof-e'nvlope receiving position and-to bring" another chambe" the magazine 'into envelope receiving positio The any chamber therein is inenvelope"receiving p'osition by a cylindrical locking 'meinber which is 'shiftable vertically on theshaft-"IS arid-rotates with the crank 14, the upper'='p"o"rtio'n of the periphery of the member 8!!being continueusand the lower portion of itsperipheryhavingagap or cut-away portion '8l-'= threin'r Accordingly,

-while the crank "14 and locking rnembrilii' occupy their normal lowere'dposition en the shaft H as shown in Fi .4,the continuo'u's or interrupted upper portion of theperipheryof the locking member-80 will be presented to shear the concave peripheral po'rtions13 of the Genevaplate,

thereby locking thedatte'r" and the mag azin e against rotation,and the roller 18' of thecrank '14 will operate'in a 'path below the Geneva plate and hence will not rotate it; butwhen the'c'rank I4 and lockingmemberw are's'hi-fted upwardlt' on the shaft 15-, the-roller! on the ciarik 'will enter one of the notches 'l2-in the Geneva plate and will rotate it one step, the notch or cut' 'away portion 8| in the lower portionbf the periphery of themember 8!! being then opposite to the periphery of theGeneva-plate,'-asshown'in Fig. 10 thus unlocking the latter and permitting its ro tation.

Y The shaft 15 which operates the Geneva motion just described is driven by-bevelgears 82 from a shaft 83; the lattefbeingmounted in bearings 84'supportedon the stationary frame of the machine, and this shafflhas'a gear 85 which is fixed 'thereon and meshes 'witha'gear 36 the latter beingffixed 'on 2i--ShEtft- 81'; The latter shaft has a' cam 88 fixed there'oifithis' oam havinga groove 89 inwhich-'a.--roller 90 one lever 9I operates, said lever being pivoted at 92 to a stationary part of the machine frame and carrying at its free end a fork 93 having pins 94 thereon which engage in a grooved collar 95 forming part of the crank I4. The cam groove 89 is of such shape that during each revolution of the shaft 81, the lever 9| will be lifted from the full line position shown in Fig. 9 to the dotted line position shown in that figure, thereby lifting the crank I4. into operating relation with the Geneva plate I0 and carrying the locking member 80 into unlocking relation therewith, so that the magazine will be rotated one step, after which the lever 9| returns to its full line position, Fig. 9 thus carrying the crank I4 out of operating relation with the Geneva plate and returning the member 80 to locking relation therewith. Preferably, the gear 80 which drives the cam 89,

is of larger diameter than that of the gear 85 on the shaft 83, so that the magazine will not be rotated until after the shaft 83 has made a plurality of revolutions, the gears 86 and 85 being shown in the present instance as having a twoto-one ratio.

The present invention provides relatively simple but dependable means for counting the number of envelopes actually fed to the magazine, it embodying counting means which will not perform a counting operation unless an envelope is actually fed. Such counting means is shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 4 and 6 to 3 inclusive. It comprises a pair of disks I00 and IOI both of which are mounted on the shaft 83, the disk I0! being fixed on this shaft but the disk I00 being loosely rotatable thereon. The disk IN is provided in its periphery with a predetermined number of notches I02 spaced equally around its circumference, and a pawl I03 carried by a bell crank I04 mounted rotatably on the shaft 83, is engageable successively with these notches, under the action of its spring I05, under the control however of the disk I 00. A detent I06 is provided to engage successively in the notches I02 of the disk IM and thereby prevent back ward rotation thereof. The disk I00 is of larger diameter than that of the disk WI and it is provided in its periphery with notches preferably of a number corresponding with those in the disk IOI, one of the notches I01 in the disk I00 extending to the full depth of each of the notches I02 in the disk IOI but the rest of the notches I08 in the disk I 00 being shallower and of such depth that the bottoms thereof are located outwardly beyond the unnotched periphery of the disk IOI. A detent I09 is arranged to cooperate with the notches in the disk I00 and thereby prevent backward rotation after each actuation thereof. By this arrangement, when the pawl I03 engages in one of the shallow notches I08 in the disk I00 it will be held out of engagement with a notch in the disk IOI, so that actuation or swing of the pawl I03 will rotate the loosely mounted disk I00 but will not rotate the disk IN, and the disk I00 will be successively rotated, step by step, by successive actuations of the pawl I03 until the latter reaches the relatively deeper notch I01 in the disk I00 whereupon the pawl will engage this notch in the disk I00 and also a registering notch I02 in the disk IN, and actuation of the pawl will then cause the disk IOI as well as the disk I00 to be rotated a step. Any desired num- V ber of shallow grooves may be provided in the disk I00 according to any desired number of actuations thereof before rotating the disk IN a step. For example, by providing four of the shallow notches I08 in the disk I00 and one deep notch I01 therein, five actuations of the pawl I03 will take place for each step in the advance of the disk I M. It will also be understood that the number of notches in the disk IOI may be varied as desired, according to the number of actuations of the pawl required to eifect each revolution of the shaft 83. By providing each of the disks I00 and MI with five notches as shown, five actuations of the disk I00 will actuate the disk IOI oriefifth of a revolution and a complete revolution of the disk IOI will require twenty-five actuations of the disk I00 by the pawl I03. By connecting the shafts 83 and 81 by the two-to-one gears as described, the magazine will receive fifty envelopes in each chamber therein before it is rotated to bring another chamber into envelope receiving position. The pawl I03 is actuated or swung at appropriate intervals about the axis of the disks I00 and IOI by a rod III which is pivotally connected to the bell crank I04 and operatively connected to a crank II2 which is fixed to the shaft 50.

The counting mechanism just described is controlled according to the presence or absence of anenvelope-readyto be fed to the magazine, the means for so controlling the counting mechanism being shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 6 to 8 inclusive. Such control means as shown in these figures comprises a pawl II5 which is pivoted at H6 on a bracket III fixed to the stationary frame of the machine, this pawl having a downwardly curved forward end II8 which is movable about the pivot IIB either downwardly into a position in the path of a pin H9 which projects from one side of the actuating pawl I03 during the retracting strokes thereof, as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 6 or as shown in Fig. '7 so that the pawl I03 will be lifted out of engagement with the disk I 00 during the retracting strokes of said pawl, or is movable upwardly intov the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 or the full line position shown in Fig. 8, Where it will be clear of or above the path of the pin II9 during the retracting strokes of the pawl I 03 so that the latter may remain in contact with the disk I00. A guard I20 is attached rigidly to the bracket II! and extends toward the free end N8 of the pawl H5 in a position'immediately above the path of the pin I I9 on the pawl I03 during retraction of the latter while in engagement with the disk I00, this guard having a portion I2I on which the pawl I I5 may rest and thus be supported when the pawl H5 is in its relatively lower position. An arm I 22 is fixed to the pawl II5 so that it will swing in unison therewith about the pivot IIB, the upper end of this arm being arranged to abut against a stop I23 fixed on a bracket I24, the latter being fixed to the stationary frame of the machine, abutting of the arm I22 against the stop I23 limiting the downward movement of the pawl I I5, and a tension spring I25 connects the arm I22 to the bracket I24 and serves tonormally and yieldingly hold said arm against said stop. The upper end of the arm I22 carries a rod I26, the free end of which is bent upwardly, as at I2! to extend through a slot I28 formed in the bottom of the envelope chute 20 (Fig. 5), and the extremity of this rod is bent downwardly to form a finger I29 which extends somewhat below the bottom of the envelope chute so that it will engage an envelope lying on the bottom of the chute and resting against the end wall 36. A plunger I30 is mounted to reciprocate vertically in a guide I 3I fixed to the stationary. frame of. the machine, this plunger having a roller I32 on itslower end which rides on a cam I33 of suitable form fixed onthe shaft 46 so that thisplungerwill be liftedand lowered j during each revolution of the shaft 46 which ele- Vates and lowers theenvelope lifter 3 8. The up per end of the plunger I30 is provided with a toe I34 which is arranged to engage and press against the underside of "a portion I35 on the pawl II5, to swing, the latter intoits upperordotted line position shown in Fig. 6 each time the shaft 45 revolves and prior to each retracting stroke of the pawl I03, the camI33 being so seton the shaft 46 as to cause the pawl H5 to be lifted during each descent of the envelope lifter 38. I

By this arrangement each time the envelope lifter descends, the portion of the rod I26 which operates through the slot I28 in the bottom of the envelope chute will be retracted from the chute andthe path of the envelopes descending therein, during each descent of the envelope lifter 38, and the engagement of the finger 52 with the lowerfendof the link29 lowers this link and swings the retainingjfingers 24 outwardly away'from the chute and thereby releases an envelope for'descent therein. The envelope thus released drops by gravity in the chute until its forward or bottom edge strikes the chute end wall 3;6,th e envelope being then positioned above the slots 31 through which the envelope lifter 38 operates. If an envelope is thus positioned in the bottom of the chute, the finger I29 will swing against the trailing or upper edge of the envelope, under the action of the spring I25, as the rotation of the cam I33 continues, and although the shape of this cam is such that at this time the plunger I30 descends and hence no lon er supports the pawl H5 in its upper position, the engagement of the finger I29 against the envelope will retain the rod I26 and finger I29 in relatively retracted position, thereby holding the pawl I I5 in its elevated position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, where it will be above or clear of the path of travel of the pm I I 9 on the pawl I 03, so that during the retracting strokeof'the pawl I03 which then takes place, this pawlis permitted to remain in engagement withthe periphery of the disk I so that, upon completion of its retracting stroke, it will engage in the next'notch in the disk I00'as shown in Fig. 8, and the pawl I03 will therefore advance the disk' I00 on its next following actuating stroke. However, if an envelope fails to feed into lifting position at the bottom of the envelope chute 20, the'rod I26 andfinger I29, upon their return stroke following lifting thereof by the plunger I30, will be free to swing until the arm I22 comes against the stop I23, the pawl II being thus allowedto descend until it rests on the guard I 20, the downwardly curved free end of the pawl II5 then occupying a position in the path of the pin II9 on the pawl I03 during the retraoting'stroke ofthe latter, as shown in Fig. 7, and consequently, as the pawl I03 is retracted, the pin H9 will ride up over the free end of the pawl H5 and onto the guard I20, the pawl I03 being thus disengaged from the disk' I00 so that it will not engage the next notch in said disk,I

with the result that the next actuating stroke of the pawl I03 will be idle or will not advance the disk lllfl. The disks I00 and IOI of the counting mechanism are thus controlled in theirdoufit ing operation or actuation according to the presence or absence ofanenvelope ready for introductionjntothe magazine, each filled envelope actually fed by the envelope chute beingcounted but {the countingjmechanism remaining idle or without actuation in the event a filled envelope fails to feedintd position for introduction into the m az ne;

By providing the disk I00 with five peripheral notches, one deeper than the rest and providing the disk J0] withfive notches, itfwill'be understood that each time the disk I00 is actuated or advanced throughfive steps by five strokes or actuations of the pawl I03, the disk IOI will be "advanced one step or one-fifthof a revolution,

so that twenty-five actuations of the pawl I03 will'rotate the shaft 83 to,which the disk IOI is fixed, through one revolution, 7 By connecting the shaft 81 carrying the cam 88 to the shaft83 by gears 86 and '85 having aratio of two-to-one,

the crank'l l and locking member 80 which con- 7 trol the actuation" of the Geneva plate I0 fixed to thefmagazine will be lifted after fifty actuations orworking strokes of the pawl I03 have taken place, so that'the magazine will be rotated to carryone chamber therein out of envelope receiving position, after fifty envelopeshave been h introduced therein and to bring another empty chamber therein into envelope receiving position.

Byfitting' box-like receptacles I40, open at the bottomand slotted at the" front removably into n chambers of the magazine/ Bathe filled and sealed envelopes will be introduced into such receptacles andfafter each receptacle has been filled and rotation of the magazine carries it out of filling position, the stack of envelopes introduced into each chamber of the magazine can be readily removed from the magazine manually by withdrawing the receptacle containing the envelopes from the chamber inthe magazine, as by sliding the receptacle [upwardly j out of the chamber, radial displacement of the receptacles from the magazine being prevented by overlying plates I4I which are fixed to the periphery of the magazine and overlie theedges of the receptacles.

The counting and stacking mechanism may be driven from the envelope filling and closing machine in proper timedrela'tion therewith and with the carrier or other means which feeds the filled envelopes, by the shaft from which all of the rtsf lia counting and stacking mechanism I are driven. i

The operation of thediiferent parts ofthe with the descriptions of'the constructions thereof, the general operation of the mechanism may 7 be brieflyldescribed as'follows. Eachenvelope, as it is released from the car- 'rier and drops into the envelope chute 20, is arthrough which the envelope lifter 38 operates.

During the descent of the envelope, the detector fin er 12 9 is retr actedfrom the bottom of the chute so asto avoidobstructing the descent of the envelopeunder the control of the cam I33, the finger I29 being shown in such retracted position by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. While the envelope lifter 38 is in its retracted position, the plunger I30 isforced upwardly by'the cam I33,

mechanism having been described in conjunction iii pin I I9 on the pawl I03 and simultaneously swinging the finger I29 out of the envelope chute, the pawl I03 being then in its actuated position, and before the pawl I03 is retracted through the action of the crank H2 and link III, the cam I33 allows the plunger I30 to descend. If an envelope is in position at the bottom of the envelope chute, descent of the pawl II5 into the path of the pin I I9 on the pawl I03 willbe prevented by engagement of the finger I20 with the rear edge of such envelope, and during retraction of the pawl I03 which then takes place, the pin II9 will pass beneath the pawl H5 and the pawl I03 will engage the next notch in the periphery of the disk I00, ready to advance this disk a step on the next actuating stroke of the pawl I03. If however no envelope is contained in the lower end of the envelope chute, the pawl H5 will be allowed to descend by gravity, following the descent of the plunger I30, so that it will be in the path of the pin H9 on the pawl I03, so that during retraction of the latter, it will be lifted out of engagement with the periphery of the disk I and hence will not engage the next notch in its periphery, so that the next following actuating stroke of the pawl I03 will take place idly or without advancing the disk I00.

Immediately after the finger I29 has advanced into engagement with an edge of an envelope in the bottom of the envelope chute, the crank 45 lifts the envelope lifter 38, carrying it through the slots 31 in the bottom of the envelope chute, past the retaining members 62 in, the bottom of a chamber in the magazine, and thus introducing the envelope into the bottom of such magazine chamber or at the bottom of a stack of envelopes which may have been previously introduced therein. The magazine at this time is held with the appropriate chamber therein in envelope receiving position by the Geneva plate I0 fixed thereto and the locking member 80 which is then in its lowered position so that it presents its uninterrupted periphery to a locking concavity I3 in the periphery of the Geneva plate. I

The pawl I03 is operated on its actuating stroke to advance the disk I00 a step in its rotation for each ascent of the envelope lifter 38, and after the pawl I03 has been actuated a predetermined number of times, as for example fifty times if the disks I 00 and IOI are each provided with five peripheral notches and the cam shaft 81 is connected to the shaft 83 by gears having a ratio of two-to-one, the cam 88 will lift the Geneva plate actuating crank I4 and locking member 80 so that the roller I8 will engage a notch I2 in the periphery of the Geneva plate "I0 and'rotate the latter one step, the cut-away or interrupted portion 8| of the locking member being then presented to the periphery of the Geneva plate, after which the actuating crank 14 and locking member 80 are lowered so that the Geneva plate will be retained in the position into which it was rotated. Such rotation of the Geneva plate rotates the magazine to which it is fixed to carry the chamber therein which has received the predetermined or counted number of filled and sealed envelopes out of envelope receiving position and to bring the next chamber in the magazine into envelope receiving position, so that the filled and sealed envelopes are formed into stacks in the magazine, each stack containing a predetermined counted number of the envelopes.

I claim as my invention:-

"1. In a mechanism of the class described, the

A 7 'ais'aisb thereby lifting the pawl I I out of the path of the combination of means for feeding envelopes in succession, an upright rotatable magazine having a plurality of vertical chambers to receive the envelopes at their lower ends, means for introducing the envelopes successively into the lower end of one or another of the chambers of the magazine, and means controlled according to the presence or absence of an envelope for counting the number of envelopes introduced into each chamber of the magazine by the envelope intro ducing means.

2. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of means for feeding envelopes in succession, an upright rotatable magazine having a concentric series of vertical chambers to receive the envelopes, envelope retaining members in the lower ends of said chambers, and means controlled according to the presence or absence of an envelope for introducing a predetermined counted number of envelopes into the lower end of each chamber of the magazine.

3. In a'mechanism of the class described, the combination of means for feeding envelopes in succession, a magazine having an annular series of upright chambers each to receive a supply of envelopes at its lower end, an envelope introducing member located beneath the magazine, the magazine and said member being relatively shiftable to bring said member into envelope introducing relation with the lower end of one or another of said chambers in the magazine, and means controlled according to the presence or absence of an envelope for relatively shifting the magazine and said envelope introducing member after a predetermined counted number of envelopes has been introduced into a chamber in the magazine.

4. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of envelope feeding means, a rotatable magazine having a plurality of envelope receiving chambers, a member for introducing envelopes successively into one or another of said chambers, a Geneva movement mechanism and controlling cam for rotating the magazine to bring the chambers thereof successively into alinement with the envelope introducing member, and means controlled according to the presence or absence of an envelope in the feeding means for actuating said Geneva movement mechanism and controlling cam.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of envelope feeding means, a rotatable magazine having a plurality of envelope receiving-chambers, a member for introducing envelopes successively into one or another of said chambers, a Geneva movement mechanism for rotating the magazine and holding it with an envelope receiving chamber thereof in alinement with the envelope introducing member, and ratchet mechanism controlled according to the presence or absence of an envelope in the feeding means for actuating said Geneva movement mechanism.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of envelope feeding means, a rotatable magazine having a plurality of envelope receiving chambers, a member for introducing envelopes successively into one or another of said chambers, a Geneva movement mechanism for rotating the magazine and looking it successively in position with one or another of its envelope receiving chambers in alinement with the envelope introducing member, and means including a pair of ratchet wheels one having a ratchet tooth deeper than its other teeth and an actuating;.-pawl.,common to both ratchet wheels, for actuating-said Genevamovement mechanism to unlock and rotate the magazine.

'7. In a-mechanism of the class described, the combination of an envelope feeding chute, en-

velope retainingmembers cooperative therewith for controlling the delivery of envelopes therefrom in succession, a magazine, a member for receiving. the envelopes successively from thechute andfor introducing them into the magazine,'andmeans for actuating the latter member to introduce an envelope into the magazine andfor retracting said member and operating said-retaining members to release an envelope in the chute for delivery therefrom.

8. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a chute adapted to position articles in succession for removal therefrom, means for-successively removing the articles therefrom,

counting means, and means controlled according to the presence or absence of an article in the chute in position for removal therefrom, for governing'rthe operation of the counting means.

9. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a chute adapted to position articles in succession for removal therefrom, means for successively removing the articles therefrom, counting means, a finger engageable with an article in position for removal from the chute, and means controlled by said finger according to the presence or absence of an envelope in position for removal from the chute for governing the operation of the counting means.

10. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a chute to receive articles and to position them for successive removal therefrom, means for removing the articles from the chute and stacking them, a finger reciprocable in the chute toward and from an article in position for removal therefrom, counting means and means controlled by said finger according to the presence or absence of an article in position in the chute for removal therefrom for governing the operation of said counting means.

11. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of means for directing articles to one or another of a plurality of stacks, a chute for feeding and positioning articles to be stacked, means in the chute for controlling the delivery of the articles to be positioned therein, means for removing the articles positioned by the chute and for actuating said controlling means, and means controlled according to the presence or absence of an article in position for removal from the chute for governing the means for directing the articles to one or another stack.

12. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of means for directing articles to one or another of a plurality of stacks, a chute for feeding and positioning articles for removal therefrom, means for lifting the articles positioned in the chute to remove them from the chute and stack them, means for counting the articles and controlling said article directing means, and means located in the chute and controlled according to the presence or absence of an article positioned therein for removal for governing the means for counting and the means for directing the articles to one or another stack.

13. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of an inclined article feeding chute having means at its lower end for positioning articles for removal therefrom, means for removing the articles positioned in the chute, means shiftable relatively to the chute for arranging the ararticle; stacking; means.

14. In aqmechanism of the class described, the mbinationaoi an inclined article feeding chute having :meansat its lowerend for positioning, articles-forremovaltherefrom, means for remov ing;;;t he gar-ticles ,from the chute, means in the chute for intermittently deliveringthe articles to be positioned, means shiftable relatively to the chute for arranging the articles in a plurality of stacks, means for counting the articles removed,

from the.-,chute, -means connected tothe count ing.meansforzshifting the stacking means, and

rneans controlled: according to the presence or absencapf an article positioned in the chute for removal-therefrom; for governing the operation:

of saidgcountingmeans and said shifting means;

es i0 the inclined portion of the chute for delivering the articles to be positioned, means for successively removing the articles positioned by the chute, means shiftable relatively to the chute for arranging the articles removed therefrom in a plurality of stacks, means operative upon a predetermined number of actuations thereof for shifting the stacking means to direct the articles from one stack to another stack, and means controlled according to the presence or. absence of an article positioned in the chute for removal therefrom for governing the operation of the shifting means.

16. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of an article feeding chute having means for positioning articles for removal therefrom, a lifter for removing the articles positioned by the chute, means shiftable relatively to the chute for arranging the articles lifted and removed therefrom in a plurality of stacks, means operative upon a predetermined number of actua-' operation of said shifting means and said count-' ing means.

17. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of an article feeding chute having means for positioning articles successively for delivery therefrom. means for delivering articles positioned by the chute, means for counting the delivered articles comprising a pair of toothed disks of different diameters, the larger of said disks having a tooth therein deeper than its other teeth and of substantially the depth of the teeth in the other disk, and a reciprocatory pawl cooperative with the teeth of said disks, and a finger movable into position behind-an article positioned in the chute and cooperative with such article to control the cooperation of said pawl with said disks.

18. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of an article feeding chute having means for positioning articles for delivery therefrom, means for delivering articles positioned by the chute, means for counting the delivered ar- 15. illna mechanism of the class'describ ed the, combination. of an inclined article feedingchute having, a horizontal lower .end forpositioning aro-rc qv l-th ref mr m enalq at gii ferent diameters, the larger of said disks having a tooth therein deeper than its other teeth and of substantially the depth of the teeth in the other disk, and a reciprocatory pawl cooperative with the teeth of said disks, and a finger movable into the chute behind an article positioned therein and controlled according to the presence or absence of an article positioned to be delivered from the chute for governing the operation of said pawl With respect to said disks.

19. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of an article feeding chute having means for positioning articles for delivery therefrom, means for delivering articles positioned by the chute, means for counting the delivered articles comprising a pair of toothed disks of dif ferent diameters, the larger of said disks having a tooth therein deeper than its other teeth and of substantially the depth of the teeth in the other disk, and a reciprocatory pawl cooperative with the teeth of said disks, and a finger having means for moving it into and out of the chute and controlled according to the presence or absence of ticles comprising a pair of toothed disks of difan article positioned to be delivered from the chute for causing said pawl to engage with or disengage from said disks.

20. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of an article feeding chute having means for positioning articles therein for delivery therefrom, means for delivering articles positioned by the chute, means for counting the delivered articles comprising a pair of toothed disksof different diameters, the larger of said disks having a tooth therein deeper than its other teeth and of substantially the depth of the teeth in the other disk, and a reciprocatory pawl cooperative with the teeth of said disks, a finger having means for yieldingly moving it into the chute and against an article positioned therein for delivery and having means for subsequently retracting it from the chute, and means controlled by said finger according to the presence or absence of an article positioned to be delivered from the chute for lifting said pawl into inoperative relation with said disks.

JOHN T. DALTON. 

